red blood cell

noun

variants or less commonly red blood corpuscle or red cell or red corpuscle
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and in mammals are typically biconcave disks which lack a nucleus and cellular organelles and are formed from nucleated cells of the red bone marrow

Note: The number of red blood cells ranges from four to six million in each cubic millimeter of normal human blood. The red color of blood is due to the presence of hemoglobin within the red blood cells.

called also erythrocyte

compare white blood cell

Examples of red blood cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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According to the paper, the fluid consists of a mixture of red blood cells, electrolytes, vitamins, and a cold preservative solution. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 17 July 2025 Strawberries are a leading source of vitamin B9 (folate), which helps the body form red blood cells and assists cell function. Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025 Testosterone levels that are truly low are most concerning because low testosterone can lower bone density (which increases the risk of fracture), reduce muscle mass, lower hemoglobin (red blood cells) levels and decrease libido, experts say. Shiv Sudhakar, NBC news, 14 July 2025 People with sickle cell disease produce misshapen red blood cells that can block blood flow to the rest of the body. Art De Roché, New York Times, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for red blood cell

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red blood cell was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Red blood cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20blood%20cell. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

red blood cell

noun
: a reddish cell of the blood that contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

Medical Definition

red blood cell

noun
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of vertebrate blood

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

compare white blood cell

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